Industry Hub
Best Marketplace Startup Pitches
Every marketplace founder thinks they're building the next Airbnb. Most aren't. The chicken-and-egg problem alone kills most of them before they start. These founders think they've cracked it. The investors will be the judge.
10 marketplace pitches received funding from The Pitch Fund. See all funded startups →
MarketplaceFolio: The $1.2B Opportunity Nobody Saw
Catherine Huang & Cathy Huang · Folio
S13 · E2
Consumer TechTicket Scalpers, Beware! Blockchain Is Coming for You.
Harold Hughes · Bandwagon
S4 · E11
MarketplaceCould This Be the Next Airbnb?
Courtney Caldwell & Tye Caldwell · ShearShare
S3 · E2
About Marketplace on The Pitch
What is Marketplace (and why does The Pitch cover it)?
A marketplace is a platform that connects buyers and sellers and takes a fee on transactions. The Pitch documents 25 Marketplace pitches across Seasons 2-14, with founders walking into a room of active venture investors and either leaving with a term sheet or leaving empty-handed.
Which Marketplace startups have pitched on The Pitch?
The Pitch has aired 25 Marketplace startup pitches: Doctours (S14E3), Your Beet (S13E11), Folio (S13E2), FranShares (S11E4), ChurchSpace (S11E2), Terrascope.io (S9E7), Dressd (S9E4), Fleeting (S7E11), SpotOn (S7E9), WhoIsYourLandlord (S7E7). Plus 15 more, including ShearShare and Shift. Each episode includes the unedited pitch, the investor deliberation, and the funding outcome.
Which Marketplace startups got funded on The Pitch?
10 Marketplace startups received funding on The Pitch, totaling $5.9M raised. The funded list: Your Beet, FranShares, ChurchSpace, Dressd, Fleeting, DogSpot, PartySlate, Bounce, ShearShare, Shift.
Which Marketplace startup raised the most on The Pitch?
Shift raised the most among Marketplace startups on The Pitch: $3.8M from Phil Nadel, Jillian Manus, Daniel Gulati, and James Altucher in Season 2 Episode 3.
Who are the investors hearing Marketplace pitches?
The investors most often evaluating Marketplace pitches on The Pitch are Jillian Manus of Structure Capital, Charles Hudson of Precursor Ventures, and Phil Nadel of Forefront Venture Fund. Across the 25 Marketplace episodes, each pitch features 3-4 active VCs deliberating in real time.
How do Marketplace founders apply to be on The Pitch?
- Fill out the application at thepitch.show/apply.
- The casting team reviews submissions and looks for Marketplace founders with traction, a clear ask, and an unusual story (industry has aired across Seasons 2-14).
- Selected founders are scheduled for a recording session in front of 3-4 active VCs.
- The pitch and deliberation are recorded unscripted; the funding decision happens live.
- Episodes air on The Pitch podcast, typically 2-6 months after recording.
When did each Marketplace pitch air?
Marketplace episodes have aired on The Pitch from Season 2 (2017) through Season 14 (2025), with the most recent being Doctours in S14E3. Every episode is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms, with full transcripts on each episode page.
What VCs have invested in Marketplace startups on The Pitch?
Active VCs that have invested in Marketplace startups on The Pitch include Jillian Manus of Structure Capital, Phil Nadel of Forefront Venture Fund, Charles Hudson of Precursor Ventures, The Pitch Fund, Elizabeth Yin of Hustle Fund, and Michael Hyatt, with $5.9M committed across 10 funded pitches. 2 additional investors have also written checks in this category.